Valve structure



Patented Oct. 15, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VALVE STRUCTURE ErvinH. Mueller, Grosse Pointe, Mich.

Application June 26, 1939, Serial No. 281,136

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a valve structure and it has to doparticularly with a valve useful for controlling the fiow of gas to oneor more gas burners.

' In gas ranges, for example, it is-desirable to have an arrangementwhere a burner, or two portions of the same burner, can b supplied withdifierent volumes of gas so that a high flame may be had for rapidcooking and a lower flame may be had for slow cooking or simmering.There are various valves which embody different gas passagewaysavailable for this purpose, and the present invention is directedparticularly to the provision of an arrangement in the valve whichfacilitates the positioning of the control For instance, a valve of thisnature, such as the one shown herein, has a rotary valve member which,at one extreme end of its rotary movement, assumes an off position andat the other extreme end of its movement assumes an on position. ,At a.certain position between these two extremes, there is a third positionwhich is an on position, but the valvegrnust be capable of movement pastthis third position. This invention'aims to provide an arrangement forcommunicating to the operator the intelligence that the valve is atmember in the various positions.

this third position.

In accordance with the invention cooperating members are provided, oneof which embodies a yieldable arrangement and one is fixed relative tothe valve body and the other rotates with the More specifically, anelement in the nature of a piece of fiat spring metal is fixed to onemember, preferably the valve ,body, while another element in the natureof a pin or keyed device is fixed to the other-member, preferably thevalve member, and cooperates with the spring The spring element is ofspecial form furnishing in itself its own spring and yielding action sothat this action is attained quite independently of the yielding meanswhich holds the valve member on its seat. The two'parts cooperate toform a stop so as to stop the rotation of the valve member in the saidintermediate position, but this stop may be overcome by the applicationvalve member.

member.

of additional turning torque.

An arrangement for carrying, out the invention is shown in theaccompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is a view of a valve constructed in accordance with the inventionshowing some parts in cross section.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on line 22 of Fig.1,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially on line33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a bracketed view showing some of the parts in detachedrelationship.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken substan- 6 tially on line 5-5 ofFig. 4, but showing the parts in assembly.

Fig. 6 is a detailed view with parts cut away and some parts in sectionshowing the operation.

Fig. 7' is a viewsimilar to Fig. 6 showing a modified form.

In. Fig. 1 a valve body is indicated at I and it has a threaded inletextension 2 with an inlet passageway 3. The body has a valve chamber 4into which the inlet passageway leads. A sec- 3 0nd passageway 5 leadsoff the inlet passageway 3 and it communicates with the passageway 6which also leads to the chamber. An extension I on the valve body isequipped with a needle valve 8 which is sealed by a cap 9 and which isadjustable to vary the size of the orifice at the outlet end of thepassageway 5.

In the form shown, the valve has a. single outlet extension ll equippedwith the usual hood l2 and which communicates into the chamber 4. Such avalve may be used with a single burner, and difierent rates of gassupply or volume of gas may be delivered to the burner by adjustment ofthe valve member. To this end, a plug valve member I3 is seated in thechamber and it has an axial bore l4 communicating with the end of thevalve chamber and the outlet II. A port 15 extends through the side ofthe valve. As shown in Fig. 2 the full line position of the port l5substantially indicates the"offposition where the port is disalignedfrom the inlet passageway 3, and the passageway 3 is closed. Also,thepassagewayfii is closed. If the valve be turned counter-clockwise toalign the port I5 with the inlet passageway 3, a full supply ofgas flowsthrough the valve and at this time the passageway 6 is closed. If thevalve member be turned further to the other dotted line positionindicated, the inlet passageway 3 is closed to the valve chamber, butthe gas may fiow through the passageways 5 and 6, and a smaller andmetered supply of gas is furnished. The arrangement thus far describedpresents no particular novelty; it shows a form of valve with which thearrangement of this invention can be cross section as shown. This stemextends out 5 through a cap l9 screw-threaded to the body and may beequipped with an operating handle 20.

The end of the valve body which receives the cap has a flange extendingfrom the screwthreads and this flange is cut away to form a key slot 2|,with an abutment 22 on one side thereof and an abutment 23 on the otherside,-

and between the abutments opposite the key slot 2| the flange is cutaway to form a large arc.

The member which is arranged to rotate with the plug valve may be in theform of a so-called D washer 24, which flts over the D stem so as torotate therewith, and the washer has an ex tending flnger 25. The fltbetween the stem and washer is preferably one which employs the usualtolerances for devices of this character so that no relative rotarymovement takes place between the stern and washer other than that whichis not avoidable, due to the permissible tolerances.

A double spring preferablytakes the form of a single piece of alloysteel, and this is generally indicated at 26. This piece of metal isbent upon itself to form a bight portion 21 with spaced plates or arms28 and 29 which extend from each other in a substantially parallelmanner. The spacing between the plates or arms is such as to receive theD washer as shown in Fig. 5. The metal is so fashioned in shape that thebight portion forms an extension wthich is disposed in the key slot 2|.Preferably the usual tolerances are employed so that the double springmember is nicely keyed to the valve body, although the structure willwork satisfactorily even if the bight portion is press fitted into thekey way and even though the D washer 24 be press fitted onto the stem.Such tolerances in this class of work are usually plus or minus tenthousandths of an inch. The double spring is fashioned with aperturesfor fltting over the stem. Preferably, the aperture in'the plate 28 hasa nice fit for relative rotation, although here again the usualtolerances may be used, while the aperture in plate 29 is quite largefor purposes which will presently appear. The double spring member is,in effect, cut away to accommodate the abutments 22 and 23 to thus formthe extending bight, and the free ends of the portions 28 and 29 fit inthe large arcuate cut-away portion opposite the key slot 2|.

The D washer is sandwiched in between the arms 28 and 29 as shown inFig. 5, and the end of the flnger 25 preferably comes substantiallyflush with the peripheral curved edges of the members 28 and 29.

Each of the two spring members are fashioned with a depression so as toform cam abutments which normally come substantially in contact witheach other as shown in Fig. 4. The depression in the member 28 is shownat 33, while in the member 29 is shown at 34, and they are preferably soformed as to provide a relatively abrupt inclined surface on one sideand a relatively gradual inclined surface upon the other. These camelements lie in the path of the arm 25.

The D washer is placed between the arms 28 and 29 and then this assemblyis passed over the stem. A coil spring 38 is used for holding the valvemember on its seat, and this coil spring passes through the aperture inthe arm or plate 29 and reacts against the D washer. The plate 28 isnext adjacent the cap l9 and is preferably provided with one or moreturned up shoulders 31 for engaging the cap, and in t is. manher thelarge arcuate portion of the arm 28 is 1 spaced from the cap. When thevalve is turned "oil" as shown in the full line position of Fig. 2, thefinger 25 abuts against the shoulder 23. As the handle is turnedcounter-clockwise, as Figs. 2 and 3 are viewed, the flnger comes intoengagement with the steep inclined portions of the cams,

and the movement is arrested. At this time the port I5 is in alignmentwith the inlet 3 and a full flow of gas passes through the valve. Thisarresting action is quite pronounced, but by applying additional torquethe flnger flexes the spring member and moves between the cam as shownin Fig. 6, and when the finger strikes the abutment 22 the port l5aligns with the passageway 6 so that a small metered quantity of gasflows through the valve for a small gas flame. Upon return movement thefinger passes quite easily between the cams due to the slow lift of thecam faces with which the finger meets as the valve is turned clockwise.

The spring member is flexed at the bight portion as the finger 25 movesbetween the cams. The plate 29 will be flexed downwardly. The plate 28is also flexed because the large arcuate section thereof is spaced fromthe cap by the legs 31. There will be some flexing of the plate 28 inthat portion thereof between the depression 33 and the lugs 31.

Thus the valve has two definite limits for its rotation, one of which isoif," and the other of which is Yon, and it has an intermediate positiondetermined by the cam shaped depressions, which is another "on position.The simmer position and full on position may be reversed. In addition tothe action of the steep cams exerting a stopping action to the rotationof the valve at the intermediate position, the portions 33 and 34 cometogether with an impact as the finger 25 passes between these portions.This creates an audible sound, as any spring action device will. This isparticularly true when the stem and valve are rotated clockwise, sincethen the flnger passes from between the portions 33 and 34 on the steepcam side. The fact that the spring 36 reacts against the D washer isincidental, thismerely being a convenient backing for the spring. The Dwasher and the yieldable element 26 are capable of providing the abovementioned function in themselves and independently of any other spring.The aperture 38 in theplate 28' has preferably a quite snug flt with thestem, and this also aids in keying the yieldable element in positionagainst rotation, since the element is held both at the bight 21 andmore or less centrally by the stem.

In the modified form as illustrated in Fig. 7, the parts are the same incharacter as those previously described. The modification resides in areversal of the projections 33 and 34. In this form the arms 28a and 29aare closer together than they are in the preceding form so that theprojection 25a'is normally under frictional engagement under the arms.The formations 33a and 34a are reversed to, in effect, form a pocket orrecess. As the projection shifts and comes into a position at the recessthe arms 28a and 29a, due to their tension, collapse towards each otherand engage the projection 25a in the recess and this determines theintermediate position. Upon the application of additional turning torquethe projection may be forced out of the pocket by a wedging or cammingaction, forcing the plates apart.

I claim: I

1. In a valve for the passage of fluid at different rates therethrough,a body member and a relatively rotatable valve member having portsarranged to be disaligned at a rotary position ofthe valve member and tobe brought into registry at different rotary positions of the valvemember for establishing respectively an "o position and different onpositions of the valve, an element having spaced arms fixed to onemember, at least one of the arms being yieldable, a projection on theother member and lying between said arms for shifting between the armsupon relative rotary movement between the members and a formation on oneof the arms lying along the path of the projection for determining oneof said positionswhen the projection abuts the formation, saidprojection being movable past the formation upon application of turningtorque sufficient to flex the yieldable arm.

2. In a valve for the passaage of fluid at different rates therethrough,a body member and a relatively rotatable valvemember having portsarranged to be disaligned at a rotary position of the valve'member andto be brought into registry at different rotary positions of the valvemember for establishing respectively an of! position and different "onpositions of the valve, a spring metal element bent upon itself to forma bight portion and spaced arms, said element being, fixed to onemember, a projection on the other member and lying between the arms forshifting therebetween upon relative movement of the members, and aformation on at least one of the arms lying along the path of theprojection for determining one of said positions of the valve memberwhen the projection abuts the formation, said projection being movablepast the formation upon the application of turning torque sufficient toflex at least one of the arms.

3. In a valve for the passage of fluid at different rates therethrough,a body member and a relatvely rotatable valve member having portsarranged to be disaligned at a rotary position of the valve member andto be brought into registry at different rotary positions of the valvemember for establishing respectively an ofi position and different onpositions of the valve, a yieldable element comprising a piece of springmetal bent upon itself to form a bight portion and two arms extendingtherefrom, a projection on the other member and positioned between thearms so that it shifts relative to the yieldable element upon relativerotary movement of the members, and a formation in at least one of thearms extending transversely -of the space between the arms andpresenting inclined surfaces lying in the path of the projection, one ofsaid surfaces determining one of the positions of the valve member whenthe projection strikes the same, and the projection being shiftable pastthe formation by ,the flexing of the yieldable element upon theapplication of turning torque.

4. In a valve for the passage of fluid at different rates therethrough,a body member and a relatively rotatable valve member having portsarranged to be disaligned at a rotary position of the valve member andto be brought into registry at difierentrotary positions of the valvemember for establishing respectively an off position and different onpositions of the valve, a spring metal device fashioned with a returnbend to form a bight with two arms extending therefrom in asubstantially parallel manner, said device being fixed to the valvebody, a projection fixed means on the body member providing fixed stopsfor the projection for determining two of said positions, and a camshaped formation on at least one of the arms located between the-saidstops and in the path of movement of the projectionfor determininganother of said positions.

5. In a valve for the passage of fluid at different rates therethrough,a body member and a V relatively rotatable valve member having portsarranged to be disaligned at a rotary position of the valve'member andto be brought into registry at difierent rotary positions of the valvemember for establishing respectively an "oif position and difierent on"positions of the valve, a spring metal device fashioned with a returnbend to form a bight with two arms extending therefrom in asubstantially parallel manner, said device being fixed to the valvebody, a projection fixed to the valve member and lying between the arms,means on the body member providing fixed stops for the projection fordetermining two of said positions, said arms each having a formationintegral therewith which extend transversely of the space between thearms and which contact with each" other and which present inclinedsurfaces in the path of the projection, the inclined surfaces on oneside of the integral formations determining another of said on positionswhen the projection abuts 'thereagainst', at least one of said armsflexing for the movement of the projection between the formations uponthe application of additional turning torque.

6. In a valve for the passage of. fiuid at differ-- ent ratestherethrough, a body member and a relatively rotatable valve memberhaving ports arranged to be disaligned at a rotary position of the valvemember and to be brought into registry at different rotary positions ofthe valve member for establishing respectively an off position anddifferent on positions of the valve, a stem on the valve member, a capsecured to the body member and through which the stem extends,

spring means for holding the valve member on its seat, a device having areturn bend therein forming a bight portion and two spaced arms, saidarms being apertured for the passage of the stem therethrough, saiddevice being located within the cap, a key-way in the body member inwhich the bi'ght portion is keyed, a washer secured to the. 'stem andhaving a projection lying between the. two arms, the body member havingfixed stops for the projection to limit the rotary movements of thevalve member and determine two of said positions, cam shaped projectingmeans on the said device lying in the path of the projection and betweenthe fixed stops for determining another of said positions, said devicefiexing'for the movement of the projection past the projecting means.

'7. In a valve for the passage of fluid at different rates therethrough,a body member and a relatively rotatable valve member having portsarranged to be disaligned at a rotary position of the valve member andto be brought into reg-' istry at diflerent rotary positions of thevalve member for establishing respectively an "off" position anddiflerent "on positions of the valve, a stem on the valve member, a capsecured to the body member and through which the stem extends, springmeans for holding the valve member on its seat, a device having a returnbend therein forming a bight portion and two spaced arms, said armsbeing apertured for the passage of the stem therethrough, said devicebeing 10- cated within the cap, a key-way in the body member in whichthe bight portion is keyed, a washer secured to the stem and having aprojection 1ying between the two arms, the body member having fixedstops for the projection to limit the rotary movements of the valvemember and determine two of said positions, opposed projections on thetwo arms extendingtransverseiy of the space therebetween andengaging'each other and presenting cam surfaces in the path of theprojection for determining another of the on" positions, and means onthe device for spacing the same from the cap to facilitate the flexingof both of said arms for the passage of the projection on the washerbetween the opposed projections.

ERVIN H. MUELLER.

